End-gate fastener.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

D. E. LEONARD. END GATE PASTENER.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 16, 1903 NO MODEL.

in: Norms PETERS c0. vuqroumo WASHINGTON a c.

UNITED STATES Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT O FICE.

DAVID E. LEONARD, OF UTICA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO MATHEW W. LEONARD, OF UTIOA, NEBRASKA.

END-GATE FASTEN ER.

sIEEGIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,205, dated November 24:, 1903.

Applioation filed March 16, 1903. $erialNo.148,093. (No model.)

4 which will be simple of construction, eflicient in operation, and one in which the parts may I be securely locked or readily released, as circumstances may require.

E To these ends'the invention comprises the details of construction and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a wagon end-gate,showing the same locked in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the locking device removed. Fig. 3 is a detailed View of the base-plate, and Fig. 4 is a similar View of the movable latch-plate. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the rear end of a wagon-body provided with an end-gate 2 of any suitable or desired construction, provided with transverse strengtheningbars 3.

4 indicates a locking-bar, of any suitable metal, mounted in suitable transverse openings formed through the side walls of the wagon-body near its rear upper corners and adapted to lie transversely across the rear end of the Wagon parallel with the upper edge of the end-gate. This rod is shown herein as engaging the end-gate through the medium of perforations formed transversely through the strengthening-bars 3, which construction permits of the end-gate being turned upward to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the bar serving as a pivoton which the same swings; but itisto be understood thatthe bar may be employed for locking gates which are pivoted at their lower ends and adapted to swing downward in the usual manner if so desired.

The bar is provided at one end with a ring or other suitable handheld 5 to permit of its ready removal, and, further, has its end adjacent to the handheld enlarged and screwthreaded, as at 6, to receive a clamping ring or collar 7, threaded thereon and operated by a suitable handle 8. The inner end of the collar is enlarged to form a disk-like bearingsurface for engagement with the side wall of the wagon-body. The bar is further provided E near its other end with a reduced squared 6o portion 9, which when the rod is in position will lie just beyond the outer face of the other side wall of the wagon-body, which has socured thereto a base-plate 10, having a central perforation 11 to admit'of the passage of the rod and integral side flanges 12.

13 indicates a movable latch member, shown in the present instance in the form of a metal plate provided with a finger-piece 14 and a central keyhole-perforation 15. This latch member in practice is seated uponthe base plate between the flanges 12, which serve to guide the same when removed to lock or release the bar in the manner presently described.

In assembling the parts the rod is inserted through the perforations in the side walls of the wagon-body and the bracing members of the end-gate, and the latch member is inserted over the end of the rod to a position between the flanges on the base-plate and then forced downward to cause the slotted portion of its keyhole-socket to'engage with the squared portion of the rod. The collar 7 is then manipulated, through the medium of its arm 8, to firmly clamp the sides of the wagon-body between the latch member and the collar, thus clamping the end-gate and preventing movement of the same. With the parts in this position, if it is desired to open the end-gate the collar is manipulated to release the same, when it may be readily swung upward on the red as a pivot, as heretofore described, and maintained in such position by operating the collar to again clamp 95 the parts.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a simple and efficient device for locking vehicle end-gates is produced and one which may be readily manipulated to secure I00 the gate against movement or to release the same, and in attaining these ends it is to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details herein shown and described, as various minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is 1. In an end-gate fastener, the combination with a vehicle-body, of a transverse rod operatively engaging one side of the body, an end-gate pivotally mounted upon said rod, and a clamping device cooperating with the rod for applying pressure to the sides of the vehicle to clamp the gate in open or closed position.

2. In an end-gate fastener, the combination with a vehicle-body, of a transverse rod, an end-gate pivotally mounted thereon, means for engaging the rod to one side of the vehicle, and a movable clamping-nut mounted on the rod and operable for drawing the sides of the vehicle together to clamp the end-gate in open or closed position.

3. In an end-gate fastener, the combination with a vehicle-body, of an end-gate provided with cleats, a transverse rod extending through the sides of the body and the cleats of the end-gate and provided adjacent to one end with a reduced squared portion, a movable clamping-nut mounted upon the end of the rod opposite the squared portion, a baseplate attached to the side of the vehicle-body and provided with flanges, and a movable latch member engaging the flanges of the base-plate and operable for engagement with the squared portion of the rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID E. LEONARD.

Vitnesses:

MAMIE THYGESON, I. P. OoRWIN. 

